Wolves fear human voices more than barking dogs or bird calls, according to research from the University of Gdańsk. In a field experiment, Maciej Szewczyk, PhD, and his colleagues used cameras with speakers playing human voices and other sounds.
"The experiment proved that wolves react with stronger fear to human voices than to barking dogs or bird calls," he said. Camera footage showed that "most wolves immediately stopped their activities and moved deeper into the forest."
Szewczyk told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that on the Hel Peninsula, wolves have likely found the smallest known territory in Poland.
The latest field research in the Pomeranian Voivodeship shows that the local wolf population is largely of Central European origin, but the share of individuals from the so-called Baltic population, including eastern Poland, Lithuania, and Belarus, is growing, Szewczyk, assistant professor at the Department of Ecology and Zoology, said.
"In recent years, we have been observing a growing share of eastern genetic variants. This demonstrates the good functioning of ecological corridors," he said.
"One family covers over 200 square kilometres. However, the degree of overlap between the territories of different groups is increasing," Szewczyk added.
Exceptions exist on the Hel Peninsula, where wolves show settlement and reproductive success within what Szewczyk believes is likely the smallest known territory in Poland.
He noted that despite increasing human presence in wolf areas, the animals maintain a natural distance. "In general, fear of humans persists within the population," he said.
Research published in a foreign journal revealed that despite species protection, 10 of 30 wolves fitted with GPS collars were illegally shot. Szewczyk estimates the wolf population in Poland at 3,000–3,500 individuals, consistent with official estimates of 3,000–4,000.
He identified attacks on dogs as the main problem in human-wolf coexistence in Pomerania and recommended keeping dogs leashed, securing them at night, or, in exceptional cases, removing conflict wolves.
"We must conduct research with a small team and, by necessity, limit it to selected research areas," Szewczyk said. He added that GPS-GSM telemetry provides reliable information on wolf numbers, diet, adaptation to human-altered areas, wildlife crossings, and illegal activities such as carcass dumping.
"Research with this method also reveals the scale of cryptic poaching, primarily with hunting weapons. Of the 30 wolves with collars, 10 were illegally shot. Extrapolating this to the entire population, this translates to at least several hundred wolves killed illegally with hunting weapons each year," he added.
He also pointed out the importance of education, conducting lectures and meetings with residents on how to react to wolf encounters, protect dogs, and report conflicts. "Education at the systemic and institutional levels is very poor," he concluded.
His findings were presented at the 'Wolves Close to Us. The Coexistence of Humans and Wolves in Pomeranian Forests’ conference organized at the University of Gdańsk. (PAP)
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